Material for the preventive protection of structures against underground termites

ABSTRACT

Described is an anti-termite material intended for preventive protection of structures against the invasion of subterranean termites. The material of the invention is in the form of a woven material constituted of textile fibers known for their tenacity. The woven mesh is dimensionally stabilized by any suitable method. To render the material impassible by subterranean termites, the threads constituting the mesh are coated with an abrasive powder securely affixed with an adhesive, a polymerisable mastic, or a resin. This coating of threads by an abrasive powder renders contact with them harmful to subterranean termites. To avoid injury, the target insects will turn away from the material through which they will not pass.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to French patent application No. 10/00441, as filed with the French patent office (INPI) on 3 Feb. 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pest control device and, more specifically, to a material for protecting structures against subterranean termites.

(2) Description of Related Art

Protection of structures against subterranean termite infestation requires the interposition of a barrier between the ground on which the building rests and the building to be preserved.

Around the world, the most common technique involves the use of chemical barriers created by application to the soil of liquid pesticides at approximately 5 liters per square meter. More recently, physical and chemical barriers in the form of polymer films, such as polyethylene loaded with pesticides or in the form of polymerizable resins with biocidal additives, were used. Physical barriers composed of fine wire mesh are in use in different parts of the world, as well as screens of graded gravel.

All these methods present several disadvantages, such as:

-   -   a. Chemical barriers generate pollution and their use is         statutorily limited.     -   b. Physical/chemical barriers in the form of films require long         installation and many fittings.     -   c. Physical/chemical barriers in the form of polymerisable         resins loaded with insecticides are likely to generate pollution         at the time of application, and they have not been proven to be         effective over time.     -   d. Conventional physical barriers, using wire mesh for example,         are inflexible and must be closely adjusted to the masonry to be         effective. This constraint leads to a long and complex         installation.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a material that acts as a physical barrier between the ground and structural elements likely to be attacked by subterranean termites, yet that does not possess the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is an anti-termite material intended for preventive protection of structures against the invasion of subterranean termites. The anti-termite material is formed of a textile of dimensionally stabilized mesh formed by threads on which abrasive powder is attached.

In another aspect, the abrasive powder is formed of pumice.

In yet another aspect, the abrasive powder is composed of corundum, glass particles, flint, or any other material having similar properties.

Further, the grain size of the abrasive powder is between 10 and 500 microns.

In another aspect, the textile fabric forming the mesh is constituted of natural or synthetic polymer fibers, such as polyester, polyamides, aramides, chlorofibers, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a anti-termite material according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a pest control device and, more specifically, to a material for protecting structures against subterranean termites. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

(1) Description

This invention consists of production of a material constituting a physical barrier that comes between the ground and structural elements likely to be attacked by termites, such as, for example, expansion joints, wall junctions, and supporting slabs or piles. Protection of the entire area under and around the slab and foundation walls is also possible with this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is an anti-termite material 100. The anti-termite material 100 is formed from a woven material 102 constituted of textile threads known for their tenacity. The thread used consists of fibers of natural or synthetic polymers including fibers of polyester, polyamides, aramides, chlorofibers, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The woven mesh must not have holes that exceed, before treatment, one millimeter in their largest dimension but may be of smaller size. To maintain this maximum size, during weaving, the mesh is dimensionally stabilized by any suitable process known to those skilled in the art, such as knotting, crossing, thermobonding, or adhesive bonding. The material 102 thus obtained is not, in this condition, impassible by subterranean termites. In fact, by slow shearing with their mandibles, they are capable of weakening the fabric and slipping through the openings formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, to render the material so constituted to be impassible by subterranean termites, the threads constituting the mesh (i.e., woven material 102) will be coated with an abrasive material 104 (e.g., powder) securely affixed with an adhesive, a polymerisable mastic, or a resin. This coating of threads by an abrasive powder 104 renders contact with them harmful to subterranean termites. To avoid injury, the target insects will turn away from the material 100 through which they will not pass.

The abrasive material 104 most indicated for this use, without being exclusive, is a pumice powder whose grain size varies from 10 to 500 microns. This material 104 consists of particles with geometry such that contact with them is harmful to subterranean termites. Other materials such as corundum, flint powder, glass powder, or metal particles are also suitable.

As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, any suitable adhesive backing to attach the abrasive particles to the textile mesh can be used, non-limiting examples of which include an adhesive, a synthetic resin, a hot coating with polymers, copolymers, or a bituminous material to obtain the desired effect.

Thus, the anti-termite material 100 of the present invention is particularly intended for protection of buildings and structures against invasion of subterranean termites. 

1) Anti-termite protection material, comprising: a textile of dimensionally stabilized mesh formed by threads on which abrasive powder is attached. 2) Anti-termite protection material according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive powder is formed of pumice. 3) Anti-termite protection material according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive powder is composed of corundum, glass particles, flint, or any other material having similar properties. 4) Anti-termite protection material according to claim 1, wherein the grain size of the abrasive powder is between 10 and 500 microns. 5) Anti-termite protection material according to claim 1, wherein the textile fabric forming the mesh is constituted of natural or synthetic polymer fibers, such as polyester, polyamides, aramides, chlorofibers, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 